Pat: 2012 Music Retrospection

Last year, we decided to make a 2011 Music Retrospection - check here - which reflects our personal view of that year's music highlights.

I revealed that it was pretty hard for me to do it because it really makes doing a deep introspection from everything I've listened and watched since January.

Yet, I am making a 2012 Music Retrospection this year - because I found very interesting to see the big differences from the artists I was listening to and the songs I discovered during the last twelve months.

Deaths like Whitney Houston, Donna Summers, Etta James, Adam "MCA" Yauch or even the Portuguese Bernardo Sassetti really marked this year.

Since we started this project, our FYMS, I've been discovering a lot of new music and re-discovering old bands.

Albums released this year:

- International Records

• Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Lana is one of the artist that I revealed in 2011 and that I was eager to discover more about. Seems like she is a lot bigger than I expected back then. Her debut record is strong and really shows-off her talent, brightness and capacity of surprising people. Songs like Summer Sadness, The National Anthem and the already hit singles Blue Jeans and Video Games are some of the songs that you should listen.

She was one of the hot topics of 2012 - for all the good and bad reasons - but for me she is a real talent and she really has a bright future.

• Jack White - Blunderbuss

Probably, this is on my number #1 of favourite albums - alongside with another. I've been a longtime fan of Jack White and all his projects but I was waiting for his most dangerous project... When he announced his solo album more than anxious I was curious to see how Jack White - one of my idols, one of the most genius musicians of the last decades -, was going to be like.

I can say that I was overwhelmed by his work. There ain't a song that I don't love. Deep from the blues, mixing his own way of expression and great talent, this is a must-have album for everyone who loves music.

Thank you Jack White!

• Keane - Strangeland

For most of you, this is an obvious choice. This Keane's record shares with Jack White the number #1 place of my favourite records of 2012.

Strangeland has the best of Keane - the melancholic, the life and softness that I love from the first album and the raw, dark and bittersweet sound of the second. This is Keane!

The way they celebrate life at the same time they show how hard it gets is just amazingly beautiful. I can't get enough of this record.

Sovereigh Light Café, Disconnected or Day Will Come are some of the songs that I suggest people to listen to.

Keane are back more than ever!

• Mumford & Sons - Babel

One of this year's revelation. I like Mumford & Sons since their debut record. The softness, kindness and joy that so well reflects the band's spirit is really explicit in Babel.

Babel is a on-going discover. Each time I dare to listen the record I discover new feelings, new sensations, new emotions. It's a lifetime album for music lovers and especially for Mumford & Sons fans. 

I Will Wait and Lover Of The Light are great songs that aren't able to describe the entire album.

Listen Babel and you will understand what I mean.

• Muse - The 2nd Law

Another art piece by one of the greatest UK bands. I love conceptual albums, I can't deny it. And all the mystic inspiration based on life and inner rebellion really attracted me. 

I start writing about this album more than three times, then I realised is one of those albums that you will never be fully capable of talking about for all it's mystery and hidden details. 

I won't quit about trying to write about The 2nd Law.

But for now, I honestly suggest everyone to take a time and discover their electronic-rock-fulfilling sound. 

Madness, Follow Me or Save Me are great examples of Muse's talent and The 2nd Law's greatness.

It's never too much to talk about talent when the topic is Muse!

• (Honored mention) The Killers - Battle Born

One of my biggest expectations of this year was, alongside with Keane, The Killers' new record. 

As I expected, they are quite good in what they do so the waiting was really worth it.

Their exquisite taste is remarkable and that reflects in whatever they do.

Miss Atomic Bomb, Runaways or Run With Me are so different between them and yet so full of The Killers' talent. What a great evolution.

This is usually the hardest list of all. I had a on-going list for this section. I would include so many different artists on this list. But the chosen above are probably, among all my listened albums, the most listened ones.

- Portuguese records

I don't usually like to divide music like this, but exceptionally I'm going to make it.

It has been a great music to the Portuguese music - where we are from - and I found so many great artists that isn't impossible to make a small list of them!

• Salto - Salto
• Walter Benjamin - The Imaginary Life of Rosemary and Me
• Wraygunn - L'Art Brut
• Supernada - Supernada
• Minta & The Brook Trouts - Olympia
• (Honored mentions) TV Rural - A Balada do Coiote and David Fonseca - Seasons: Rising and Falling

Songs released this year:

There are a lot of songs that really enjoyed this year like: Bruno Mars - Locked Out Of Heaven, Salto - Deixar Cair, Keane - Sovereigh Light Café, Rihanna - Diamonds, The Hypers - Never Too Old and a lot of many others.

Probably my most favourite comes from a collaboration between Deadmau5 and My Chemical Romance's singer Gerard Way with the song Professional Griefers.

There's something really mysterious about this song, that way it joins electronic music to a strong punk/rock voice is just amazing. It's one of those unexpected songs that got stuck in my mind for months!

Gigs I went and loved:

You Can't Win, Charlie Brown - Lisboa: Cinema São Jorge

Festival MUSA - Carcavelos

Manu Chao - Cascais: Cascais Music Festival

Salto - Lisboa: FNAC Chiado

Festival Sudoeste TMN - Zambujeira do Mar: Herdade da Casa Branca

Jack White - Lisboa: Coliseu dos Recreios

Keane - Lisboa: Campo Pequeno (+ previous gigs in TMN Ao Vivo - May - and Cascais Music Festival - July -)

The Gift - Lisboa: Coliseu dos Recreios
The Hypers + Unwanted Heroes - Cascais: Rock & Shots

Musical Discovery:

Homeless (that I met as Unwanted Heroes) are my musical discovery of this year.
They are young fresh band whose talent is tremendously huge and having quite a bright future in front of them.
I can't wait to see them become bigger and successful because they do deserve it. They are, for sure, my last music passion of this year!
I could mention so many others but Homeless are young and new - they deserve a shot!


2013 Expectations:
I only expect another great year like this one in terms of shows, albums and artists. I would love to be able to see Mumford & Sons and Muse.
I am working on to see The XX's festival, Willy Moon and David Fonseca. Optimus Alive! is once again on my list but the other festivals are inviting very intriguing artists aswell.
For 2013, I only hope to be greater!


Note: I would like to highlight that I had the need to leave outside, of the mentioned above, artists that mean a lot to me, otherwise the lists would go on and on and I wouldn't be quite a reflection, wouldn't it?
Yet, I did my best to include all of the artists and their work that influenced in a way or another - trying to include them in the most various ways.

Let us know which were on your top!